Matthew Rosenfeld

Matthew Rosenfeld, 16, of Plano, Texas, became the first medalist to win the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship since Tiger Woods accomplished the feat in 1992, with a 3 and 2 victory over Ryan Moore, 17, of Puyallup, Wash., at the 6,761-yard, par 71 Ghost Creek Course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore.

Rosenfeld, who was eliminated in last year's semifinal by eventual champion Hunter Mahan, also played in back-to-back semifinals. He is the first player to do so since josh McCoy advanced that far in 1995 and 1996.

"The USGA events are the biggest tournaments of the year," Rosenfeld said. "It's like a dream come true. To win a U.S. Junior has always been a dream of mine and it was ended when Hunter (Mahan) beat me in the semifinals last year. I came back this year with a positive attitude and I ended up winning. It's a great feeling."

The Junior Amateurs were the second and third USGA championships to be conducted in the Portland area in 2000.

A Texas high school junior, Rosenfeld won three of the first six holes and maintained a 2-up edge through nine holes. He won No.13 with a par, lost No.14 with a lippedout par putt but regained his 3-up edge with a 5-foot birdie on No.15. The players halved No.l6 with pars to close out the match.

The slight Texan made five birdies in 16 holes, including four on the front nine. In the last three rounds of the Championship, Rosenfeld played 43 holes, malting 15 birdies and just three bogeys.

The U.S. Girls' Junior Championship was conducted concurrently at Pumpkin Ridge. The only other time both junior championships were held together was at Wilmington (Del.) Country Club in 1978. Lisa Ferrero, 17, of Lodi, Calif., defeated Ina Kim 16, of Encino, Calif., in the Girls' Junior final, 3 and 1.

The other finalist, Ryan Moore, a high school senior, squared the match early with a 260-yard 3-iron to 6 feet on the par-5 4th hole. He sank the eagle putt to top the 18-foot birdie Rosenfeld had holed.

Moore hit two stray iron shots off the tee on the par-3 5th hole and part 6th, which cost him both holes. Rosenfeld built a 2-up advantage that he maintained throughout the match.

"Those were just bad holes," said Moore, who made a very admirable run to the final match. "I just don't know. Both were 2-irons. I don't like my 2-iron anymore."